Here are some recent videos and pictures of Claire to celebrate the arrival of summer!
Claire Summer Pictures!
Claire Likes Junk Mail Video
Claire Crawls Video
Claire Eats Dinner Video
Claire High Five Video
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Antares Peak and Pincer Peak Hike
Dan suggested a Monday hike of some peaks above Garfield Canyon. Both peakbagging and taking a day off work sounded amazing to me, so I was in. The trip also offered the possibility of one to three peaks based upon how strong we felt.
We left Dan's house at 6:15am and began the long drive to Garfield Canyon. About 3 hours later, we arrived and even attempted to drive past the normal parking spot at 6900'. However the road past this point was overgrown and we were forced to park shortly thereafter around 7000'. From here we hiked up the old mining road which was surprisingly washed out and overgrown. While not good for vehicles, the hiking along the road was good and we made great progress up the canyon. Soon we passed the mining ruins, which consisted of a crumbling mill, some decaying cabins, and lots of collapsed adits. We continued to follow the road above the mine but eventually we just headed cross-country toward the summit ridge of Antares Peak. This was a little steep in places but very straightforward.
After grinding up the last 600', we were on the summit of Antares Peak which has fantastic views of the entire Pioneer range and partial views of the Lost River Range. Other than some gusty wind, summit conditions were perfect. Surprisingly, we were only the second party since 1994 to sign the register! We were both feeling a little tired at this point so we decided we would climb the next peak (Peak 10650' aka Pincer Peak) and not climb Scorpion Mountain which was much further away.
The ridge from Antares Peak to Pincer Peak was fun and included a class 3 section near the saddle. After fighting fatigue on the traverse, we soon reached Pincer Peak, which naturally features similar views to its neighbor. After recharging for a little bit, we dropped off the summit and down to the south arm of Garfield Canyon, which was surprisingly devoid of mining detritus. After hiking through the brush, we eventually found the road and retraced our steps back to the vehicle.
This was a very enjoyable hike in a beautiful and seldom visited area. The ample mining debris provokes thoughts about the anonymous miners that used to live in this area over 100 years ago. I'm sure we'll be back one day to visit Scorpion Mountain!
Antares Peak / Pincer Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
We left Dan's house at 6:15am and began the long drive to Garfield Canyon. About 3 hours later, we arrived and even attempted to drive past the normal parking spot at 6900'. However the road past this point was overgrown and we were forced to park shortly thereafter around 7000'. From here we hiked up the old mining road which was surprisingly washed out and overgrown. While not good for vehicles, the hiking along the road was good and we made great progress up the canyon. Soon we passed the mining ruins, which consisted of a crumbling mill, some decaying cabins, and lots of collapsed adits. We continued to follow the road above the mine but eventually we just headed cross-country toward the summit ridge of Antares Peak. This was a little steep in places but very straightforward.
After grinding up the last 600', we were on the summit of Antares Peak which has fantastic views of the entire Pioneer range and partial views of the Lost River Range. Other than some gusty wind, summit conditions were perfect. Surprisingly, we were only the second party since 1994 to sign the register! We were both feeling a little tired at this point so we decided we would climb the next peak (Peak 10650' aka Pincer Peak) and not climb Scorpion Mountain which was much further away.
The ridge from Antares Peak to Pincer Peak was fun and included a class 3 section near the saddle. After fighting fatigue on the traverse, we soon reached Pincer Peak, which naturally features similar views to its neighbor. After recharging for a little bit, we dropped off the summit and down to the south arm of Garfield Canyon, which was surprisingly devoid of mining detritus. After hiking through the brush, we eventually found the road and retraced our steps back to the vehicle.
This was a very enjoyable hike in a beautiful and seldom visited area. The ample mining debris provokes thoughts about the anonymous miners that used to live in this area over 100 years ago. I'm sure we'll be back one day to visit Scorpion Mountain!
Antares Peak / Pincer Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Claire Nine Month Update
Today is Claire's Nine Month anniversary of Claire's birthday. In celebration, here is a photo and video update!
Claire Nine Month Pictures!
Claire Peek-a-Boo Video
Claire In a Swing Video
Claire With a Ball Video
Claire Rolling Around Video
Claire In Her High Chair Video
Claire Wants a Coaster Video
Claire In the Pool Video
Claire On the Rug Video
Claire Nine Month Pictures!
Claire Peek-a-Boo Video
Claire In a Swing Video
Claire With a Ball Video
Claire Rolling Around Video
Claire In Her High Chair Video
Claire Wants a Coaster Video
Claire In the Pool Video
Claire On the Rug Video
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Jerome County Highpoint Visit
Last Saturday, I happened to be passing through the Magic Valley so I opted to visit the Jerome County Highpoint, a very obscure spot north of I-84. While in the area, I decided I would visit a couple of other nearby summits as well.
I approached from the north, heading east from Shoshone and through Dietrich on ID-24. At the signed Sid Junction, I turned south for Sid Butte. This is a mostly good road which leads all the way to the top of this unremarkable butte. A car can probably make it all the way but high clearance could be helpful near the end. After walking around the summit for a bit, I returned back to the highway and continued east toward the Kimama rail siding. From Kimama I mostly followed Ken Jones' directions to the Jerome County Highpoint, although I deviated and took the 600 W Rd south instead because it is paved. These directions are still great and took me right to the highpoint!
The highpoint is marked by a cairn and has no register. It's an interesting spot on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater with expansive views of the Snake River Plain. I walked around the area quite a bit, taking photos and enjoying the nice weather. Despite seeing a rattlesnake on the approach road (about a mile from the highpoint), I didn't see any while on foot. Yay for that, since this area is notorious for them in the warmer months. My final stop was Kimama Butte, which is very close to the Jerome County Highpoint. This is your typical butte with a benchmark and several radio towers on top. Good views of the area but lots of RF exposure!
In short, while these are unimpressive summits with little hiking involved, I enjoyed the nice day exploring a seldom-visited part of the state!
Jerome County Highpoint Pictures!
I approached from the north, heading east from Shoshone and through Dietrich on ID-24. At the signed Sid Junction, I turned south for Sid Butte. This is a mostly good road which leads all the way to the top of this unremarkable butte. A car can probably make it all the way but high clearance could be helpful near the end. After walking around the summit for a bit, I returned back to the highway and continued east toward the Kimama rail siding. From Kimama I mostly followed Ken Jones' directions to the Jerome County Highpoint, although I deviated and took the 600 W Rd south instead because it is paved. These directions are still great and took me right to the highpoint!
The highpoint is marked by a cairn and has no register. It's an interesting spot on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater with expansive views of the Snake River Plain. I walked around the area quite a bit, taking photos and enjoying the nice weather. Despite seeing a rattlesnake on the approach road (about a mile from the highpoint), I didn't see any while on foot. Yay for that, since this area is notorious for them in the warmer months. My final stop was Kimama Butte, which is very close to the Jerome County Highpoint. This is your typical butte with a benchmark and several radio towers on top. Good views of the area but lots of RF exposure!
In short, while these are unimpressive summits with little hiking involved, I enjoyed the nice day exploring a seldom-visited part of the state!
Jerome County Highpoint Pictures!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike
It has been two years since I "kayak hiked" anything, so I decided to use Memorial Day to revisit this enjoyable approach to hiking. I selected obscure Peak 5108' near the tail of Arrowrock Reservoir. After sleeping in and then driving the windy, bumpy road along the reservoir, I reached the first available launch point just after noon. After pumping up the kayak and lugging it to the shore, I was on the water just after 12:30. Because this is near the tail of the reservoir, the kayak portion of the hike was very short (no more than 5 minutes each way).
Once across, I put on my shoes, stashed the kayak, and began the very steep hike up to the peak. The hike up was very direct and unrelenting, crossing open slopes dotted with numerous wildflowers. After about 90 minutes of what seemed like stair climbing, I reached the flat, brushy summit and walked around a bit looking for the high point in the brush. Despite the summit's lameness, there was no prior sign of summit visitation, which is unusual for a peak so close to Boise!
The peak has a great view of Arrowrock Reservoir and decent views of the surrounding area. After spending some time relaxing and refueling, I retraced my steps back to the shoreline and then across the reservoir. Another fun, short kayak hike!
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike Pictures
Trip statistics: 0.3 miles kayaked (10 min), 2.25 miles hiked, 1900' gain, 2.5h
Once across, I put on my shoes, stashed the kayak, and began the very steep hike up to the peak. The hike up was very direct and unrelenting, crossing open slopes dotted with numerous wildflowers. After about 90 minutes of what seemed like stair climbing, I reached the flat, brushy summit and walked around a bit looking for the high point in the brush. Despite the summit's lameness, there was no prior sign of summit visitation, which is unusual for a peak so close to Boise!
The peak has a great view of Arrowrock Reservoir and decent views of the surrounding area. After spending some time relaxing and refueling, I retraced my steps back to the shoreline and then across the reservoir. Another fun, short kayak hike!
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike Pictures
Trip statistics: 0.3 miles kayaked (10 min), 2.25 miles hiked, 1900' gain, 2.5h
Monday, May 21, 2012
Claire Eight Month Update
Claire recently passed the eight month mark and here are some recent pictures and videos. Enjoy!
Claire Eight Month Pictures!
Claire Excited About a Toy Video
Claire Eats Dinner Video
Claire With a Spoon Video
Claire in the Park Video
Claire Arm Waggle Video
Claire on the Rug Video
Claire Wants an Iced Coffee Video
Claire Eight Month Pictures!
Claire Excited About a Toy Video
Claire Eats Dinner Video
Claire With a Spoon Video
Claire in the Park Video
Claire Arm Waggle Video
Claire on the Rug Video
Claire Wants an Iced Coffee Video
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb
For the first time in two years, I attended an Idahosummits.com group climb. I missed the previous three due to being out of town, too busy at work, and being a brand new father. This time, everything fell in place for a great outing. The destination was Peak 10027 in the Sawtooths. In order to take care of some things around the house Friday evening, I opted to drive up Saturday morning. I met John and Bob at 3:30am and we were soon on our way. The vehicle conversation was great and before we knew it we were at the Decker Flat camping area along the Salmon River. Here we met 13 happy campers getting ready for a fun day in the mountains!
After spending a little while in the 19° temperatures meeting people, we soon headed out to the Cabin Creek Trailhead near Alturas Lake. Due to snow drifts, we parked about 100 yards shy of the trailhead. We were soon on our way led by John, who had climbed this route before. Our large group (15 people on the trail, plus one more staying at the trailhead) made good time heading up the trail, then cross country to frozen Lake 8920+. From here we split up to ascend the peak in different ways, but most of us took the "easy" route to a saddle and then up to the summit ridge. We had a direct ascent to the summit, soon taking in the incredible views of the southern Sawtooths in shockingly warm and clear May weather! The views were amazing and we spent quite a bit of time enjoying each other's company (there were a total of 15 of us on the summit!) and the spectacular Sawtooth scenery.
Five of us (myself, Matt, Andrew, Jacob, and Nathan) opted to traverse to nearby McDonald Peak, so we left the rest of the group and headed over. The others headed straight for the trailhead while we made the traverse and soon enjoyed a similar summit experience from the slightly higher terrain of McDonald Peak. This took a little longer than expected and we finished with a long (but very pleasant) hike back to the trailhead. It is worth mentioning that aside from the perfect weather, the snow conditions were also perfect and I never needed snowshoes or crampons at any point during the day - even the soft afternoon snow supported our boots very well!
By the time we arrived at the vehicle, most everyone else had already left. After saying goodbye to Nathan, Andrew, Matt, and Russ, we dropped Jacob off at the campground before the three of us headed back to Boise. In short this was an awesome trip with great people, great weather, and great snow conditions - basically a perfect trip!
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
John's Trip Report
Oleg's Pictures
Jacob's Pictures
Geo's Pictures
Idahosummits Forum Thread
After spending a little while in the 19° temperatures meeting people, we soon headed out to the Cabin Creek Trailhead near Alturas Lake. Due to snow drifts, we parked about 100 yards shy of the trailhead. We were soon on our way led by John, who had climbed this route before. Our large group (15 people on the trail, plus one more staying at the trailhead) made good time heading up the trail, then cross country to frozen Lake 8920+. From here we split up to ascend the peak in different ways, but most of us took the "easy" route to a saddle and then up to the summit ridge. We had a direct ascent to the summit, soon taking in the incredible views of the southern Sawtooths in shockingly warm and clear May weather! The views were amazing and we spent quite a bit of time enjoying each other's company (there were a total of 15 of us on the summit!) and the spectacular Sawtooth scenery.
Five of us (myself, Matt, Andrew, Jacob, and Nathan) opted to traverse to nearby McDonald Peak, so we left the rest of the group and headed over. The others headed straight for the trailhead while we made the traverse and soon enjoyed a similar summit experience from the slightly higher terrain of McDonald Peak. This took a little longer than expected and we finished with a long (but very pleasant) hike back to the trailhead. It is worth mentioning that aside from the perfect weather, the snow conditions were also perfect and I never needed snowshoes or crampons at any point during the day - even the soft afternoon snow supported our boots very well!
By the time we arrived at the vehicle, most everyone else had already left. After saying goodbye to Nathan, Andrew, Matt, and Russ, we dropped Jacob off at the campground before the three of us headed back to Boise. In short this was an awesome trip with great people, great weather, and great snow conditions - basically a perfect trip!
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
John's Trip Report
Oleg's Pictures
Jacob's Pictures
Geo's Pictures
Idahosummits Forum Thread
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike
To properly enjoy the great Spring weather we've been having, I went hiking in the Boise Mountains near Arrowrock Reservoir. The destination was Peak 6526' and Peak 6336', two little-known and seldom hiked peaks to the east of Mt Heinen.
I started from the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead off of FS-377. I headed straight up the trail, following Cottonwood Creek through surprisingly un-scenic terrain (thanks to past fires and the abundance of willows and chaparral). The trail starts off with a nice tread, complete with bridges across the rushing creek. After a mile or two, the trail deteriorates and you're on your own for crossing the creek. With the creek running high, I was forced to take off my boots at one point in order to cross. A couple of other washed out sections had to be carefully bypassed. I followed the trail up to elevation 5350', where I found a nice log to use for crossing. From here, I headed straight up to Peak 6526'. While direct, this route was marred by occasional thick brush and blowdowns. Soon I was on the summit, which looked very pristine except for the nicely cut stump right on the summit. At least the stump made for good sittin'! This peak offered good views of Thorn Creek Butte, a rarity in the lower Boise Mountains.
From this summit I followed the ridge over to Peak 6336'. This ridge is easy to follow but also features sections of annoying brush and deadfall. Soon I was atop Peak 6336' which featured similar views to its neighbor but with better visibility to Arrowrock Reservoir. After a brief summit break I decided to follow the ridge directly down to the trailhead rather than go back to Cottonwood Creek. Worried about possible brush battles, I headed down anyway. Initially the the brush was an issue but as I approached Point 5774' I found a very nice trail. This trail was at least as good as the actual Cottonwood Creek Trail and leads directly to the trailhead!
In short, this was a mostly enjoyable hike that feels very remote despite only being about an hour from Boise. The direct trail to Peak 6336' is highly recommended - the key is to take the (unmarked, but obvious) trail to the right of the official trailhead which proceeds straight ahead and uphill. The official trail (which I used to ascend) instead heads left to meet up with Cottonwood Creek.
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike Pictures!
Trip statistics: 11 miles, 3650' gain, 5.25 hours
I started from the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead off of FS-377. I headed straight up the trail, following Cottonwood Creek through surprisingly un-scenic terrain (thanks to past fires and the abundance of willows and chaparral). The trail starts off with a nice tread, complete with bridges across the rushing creek. After a mile or two, the trail deteriorates and you're on your own for crossing the creek. With the creek running high, I was forced to take off my boots at one point in order to cross. A couple of other washed out sections had to be carefully bypassed. I followed the trail up to elevation 5350', where I found a nice log to use for crossing. From here, I headed straight up to Peak 6526'. While direct, this route was marred by occasional thick brush and blowdowns. Soon I was on the summit, which looked very pristine except for the nicely cut stump right on the summit. At least the stump made for good sittin'! This peak offered good views of Thorn Creek Butte, a rarity in the lower Boise Mountains.
From this summit I followed the ridge over to Peak 6336'. This ridge is easy to follow but also features sections of annoying brush and deadfall. Soon I was atop Peak 6336' which featured similar views to its neighbor but with better visibility to Arrowrock Reservoir. After a brief summit break I decided to follow the ridge directly down to the trailhead rather than go back to Cottonwood Creek. Worried about possible brush battles, I headed down anyway. Initially the the brush was an issue but as I approached Point 5774' I found a very nice trail. This trail was at least as good as the actual Cottonwood Creek Trail and leads directly to the trailhead!
In short, this was a mostly enjoyable hike that feels very remote despite only being about an hour from Boise. The direct trail to Peak 6336' is highly recommended - the key is to take the (unmarked, but obvious) trail to the right of the official trailhead which proceeds straight ahead and uphill. The official trail (which I used to ascend) instead heads left to meet up with Cottonwood Creek.
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike Pictures!
Trip statistics: 11 miles, 3650' gain, 5.25 hours
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Claire May Day Update
Claire has had a busy April growing, eating more food, and enjoying the nicer weather. Here are some picture and video evidence of this. Enjoy!
Claire May Day Pictures!
Claire Eating Banana Video Part 1
Claire Eating Banana Video Part 2
Claire Jumparoo Video
Claire May Day Pictures!
Claire Eating Banana Video Part 1
Claire Eating Banana Video Part 2
Claire Jumparoo Video
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Bender Peak and Flat BM Hike
Last weekend I decided to go hiking in the Danskin Mountains outside of Boise. This has become a bit of a Spring ritual as the area is only enjoyable before the opening of ORV season on April 10. I decided to climb Bender Peak (a.k.a. Peak 4966') and Flat BM, two very minor summits which I'm sure rarely see visits from hikers. This hike was very near to last Spring's Hutton Peak and Fiddler BM Hike and was a very similar outdoor experience.
I decided to hike from the Bender Creek ORV trailhead. This was mostly for parking convenience as other places further along Blacks Creek Road would make for a shorter hike. I started up the trail and soon encountered another hiker, a shocking sight on an ATV trail. I continued to follow the ATV trail for awhile, passing some big washouts before reaching the spot where Bender Creek meets Flat Creek. Here I crossed the creek which was a little annoying due to high water and lots of willows. From this area I hiked straight up to the ridge leading to Bender Peak, which unsurprisingly had a motorcycle trail on it. This trail led straight to the top of Bender Peak, which has good views of the surrounding country. The views are very familiar to me by now but they never get old! After staying for a bit, I simply followed the motorcycle trail along the ridge over to Flat BM. Flat BM was most notable for not actually having a benchmark - at least, I couldn't find one anywhere, nor anywhere one likely would have been. The peak really needs another name but there isn't much remarkable about it to suggest anything better...
After taking in the very similar views, I headed back down, retracing most of my route but taking a few shortcuts. Interestingly, when I got back to the trailhead there was a USFS ranger parked waiting for two motorcyclists to return to their trucks. Hopefully the "poachers" got their ticket in the end!
Bender Peak/Flat BM Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
I decided to hike from the Bender Creek ORV trailhead. This was mostly for parking convenience as other places further along Blacks Creek Road would make for a shorter hike. I started up the trail and soon encountered another hiker, a shocking sight on an ATV trail. I continued to follow the ATV trail for awhile, passing some big washouts before reaching the spot where Bender Creek meets Flat Creek. Here I crossed the creek which was a little annoying due to high water and lots of willows. From this area I hiked straight up to the ridge leading to Bender Peak, which unsurprisingly had a motorcycle trail on it. This trail led straight to the top of Bender Peak, which has good views of the surrounding country. The views are very familiar to me by now but they never get old! After staying for a bit, I simply followed the motorcycle trail along the ridge over to Flat BM. Flat BM was most notable for not actually having a benchmark - at least, I couldn't find one anywhere, nor anywhere one likely would have been. The peak really needs another name but there isn't much remarkable about it to suggest anything better...
After taking in the very similar views, I headed back down, retracing most of my route but taking a few shortcuts. Interestingly, when I got back to the trailhead there was a USFS ranger parked waiting for two motorcyclists to return to their trucks. Hopefully the "poachers" got their ticket in the end!
Bender Peak/Flat BM Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
Monday, April 9, 2012
What has Claire been up to?
Hi to all our lovely readers! We hope all 2 of you had a great Easter weekend..ours was pretty quiet - we had a very nice Easter brunch with Gary & Bonnie at the Original Pancake House and Claire played with some Easter eggs that Zach & I had coloured (or "colored" for all our American readers) the night before. Really, she just tried to eat the eggs & faceplanted into my Easter basket! You can check out the video footage of this ridiculousness below!
In other Claire news, this past week has been full of excitement! First off, she had her 6 month checkup & shots, and she is currently weighing in at 16lbs 9oz (60th percentile for weight) and 27" long (90th percentile for height!!) Her height isn't too surprising considering all of her tall family members on both sides! Clearly she doesn't take after me in that regard! She had to get 2 shots & take a liquid Rotavirus vaccine, and she did very well - only cried for about 10 seconds after the shots.
This past Thursday, Claire & I went to The Little Gym to take an introductory class with other 4-10 month old babies...she seemed to really enjoy it, and we both got to meet some new babies & moms. The class focuses on developmental skills, using music, gymnastic mats & equipment, and fun things like scarves, balls & bubbles...Claire was fascinated by the bubbles! She really only started to fuss in the last 5 minutes or so, probably due to a little overstimulation! Before we knew it, 45 minutes had flown by & class was over. Their season lasts for another 8 weeks, so we've signed up for the remaining classes & we'll see how it goes! Should be pretty fun!
In other news, as of Friday night, Claire has started to cut her two bottom teeth! She doesn't seem too bothered by them most of the time, but occasionally is a little clingy/fussy & tends to have a tough time in the wee hours of the morning, getting back to sleep...which is lovely for Mom & Dad, too!
That's about all we have to report...here are some pictures & video...enjoy!
Claire Easter Pictures!
Claire Jumparoo Video
Claire Playmat Video Part 1
Claire Playmat Video Part 2
Claire Eats Avocado
Claire Wants a Beer Video
Claire Easter Video
Sippy Cup Video
In other Claire news, this past week has been full of excitement! First off, she had her 6 month checkup & shots, and she is currently weighing in at 16lbs 9oz (60th percentile for weight) and 27" long (90th percentile for height!!) Her height isn't too surprising considering all of her tall family members on both sides! Clearly she doesn't take after me in that regard! She had to get 2 shots & take a liquid Rotavirus vaccine, and she did very well - only cried for about 10 seconds after the shots.
This past Thursday, Claire & I went to The Little Gym to take an introductory class with other 4-10 month old babies...she seemed to really enjoy it, and we both got to meet some new babies & moms. The class focuses on developmental skills, using music, gymnastic mats & equipment, and fun things like scarves, balls & bubbles...Claire was fascinated by the bubbles! She really only started to fuss in the last 5 minutes or so, probably due to a little overstimulation! Before we knew it, 45 minutes had flown by & class was over. Their season lasts for another 8 weeks, so we've signed up for the remaining classes & we'll see how it goes! Should be pretty fun!
In other news, as of Friday night, Claire has started to cut her two bottom teeth! She doesn't seem too bothered by them most of the time, but occasionally is a little clingy/fussy & tends to have a tough time in the wee hours of the morning, getting back to sleep...which is lovely for Mom & Dad, too!
That's about all we have to report...here are some pictures & video...enjoy!
Claire Easter Pictures!
Claire Jumparoo Video
Claire Playmat Video Part 1
Claire Playmat Video Part 2
Claire Eats Avocado
Claire Wants a Beer Video
Claire Easter Video
Sippy Cup Video
Friday, March 30, 2012
Claire's First Food!
On Wednesday, March 28, Claire tried some solid food for the first time! We were having sweet potatoes for dinner, so I just stuck some of them into the food processor & whizzed it up (yes, that's a technical cooking term) with a little water. She ate maybe a teaspoonful altogether, but was pretty wary of them & mainly just looked weirded out by the whole experience! Here's some video footage of the hilarity.
Video of Claire trying out some Sweet Potatoes
Video of Claire trying out some Sweet Potatoes
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Katie & Claire's Vancouver Adventures!
As Zach mentioned in his last post, Claire & I spent March 10th through March 22nd up in Vancouver, while he toiled away in Pullman. We had a great visit with the family, and it was really awesome to be able to spend more than a few days there, since our standard visits are usually pretty whirlwind-ish! We really missed Zach, though!
This time, we had the chance to visit with lots of friends & family. Of course, Claire got lots of Grandma Shepherd time, as well as lots of time spent with my sister & brother, Claire's Auntie Megan & Uncle Dave. We also hung out with my youngest brother, Greg, but he was busy with work & other obligations, so didn't see as much of him as possible. Claire really loved spending time with her cousins, Emily & Matthew, who were wonderful with her & seemed to really enjoy playing with her (except when she cried...then she stopped being cool for a few minutes!). On the family front, we also visited with my aunts & uncles, as well as my brother-in-law & his family. We also headed out to Chilliwack with Grandma Shepherd to see my mom's cousin, Gail, who I hadn't seen for a number of years. Dave is staying with Gail while he is substitute teaching in Chilliwack. While we were there, Claire got to meet her first cat - she only grabbed it's tail once - the rest of the time she just kept an eye on it (as it did the same!)
It was SO nice to see everyone!
Claire got to visit with a number of my friends on this trip, too - she was a popular baby! First, we caught up with my friend Kelly & her 7 month old, Lucas, who is Claire's future husband. They behaved themselves for the most part - Claire tried to pull off Lucas' sock & Lucas tried to grab Claire's face...sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship, right?!
Claire & I also got to hang out with my best friend, Linsie, a couple of times and even met Linsie's ADORABLE 1o month old niece, Delyla. I'm sure Claire was jealous of Delyla's abilities to speed-crawl and stand up, but what Claire was MOST impressed with was Delyla's deluxe Jumperoo...at that point, Claire had been away from her own beloved Jumperoo for a couple of weeks, so when I put her into the deluxe Jumperoo, she jumped like a maniac for 15 minutes or more - she was so into it that she jumped both of her socks off!
Another day, my Mom & I took Claire to North Vancouver to have tea with my friend Jenn & her mom (and their huge dog, Holly, who was quite taken with Claire!).
Finally, Mom, Claire & I went to our family friends, the Penafiels. Claire had a great time with Julie (who is a couple of years younger than me), and got to sit in a high chair for the first time - so many firsts!
Again, it was wonderful to have the time to be able to catch up with so many friends!
When we weren't visiting with family & friends, we just enjoyed spending time around Vancouver. We went for walks, played with cousins, and Claire even got to hang out with her D0g-Aunties, Cassie & Sydney!
We capped the fantastic trip off with a fun road trip back to Pullman, thanks to the stellar driving & passengering skills of my brother Dave & sister Meg. They are both SAINTS for putting up with Claire (and me!) for so long...Claire did pretty well for most of the trip, but had a screaming meltdown for the last 45 minutes of the trip. Thank you, Meg & Dave, for not kicking us out on the side of the highway! We had a great time with you!
We had an excellent trip, and just wish that Zach could have been there with us. Next time, he will be!
Here are some pictures (ok, A LOT of pictures...), as well as a few videos for your enjoyment...yes, every single picture & video features Claire...what? Is that surprising?! :-)
Claire March 2012 Pictures!
Claire Rolls Over Video
Claire in Car Seat Part 1 Video
Claire in Car Seat Part 2 Video
Claire and Emily Video
Claire Raspberry Video
Emily, Matthew, and Claire Video
Claire Bouncy Seat Video
Claire Raspberry Video Part 1
Claire Raspberry Video Part 2
Claire Reaching for a Spoon Video
This time, we had the chance to visit with lots of friends & family. Of course, Claire got lots of Grandma Shepherd time, as well as lots of time spent with my sister & brother, Claire's Auntie Megan & Uncle Dave. We also hung out with my youngest brother, Greg, but he was busy with work & other obligations, so didn't see as much of him as possible. Claire really loved spending time with her cousins, Emily & Matthew, who were wonderful with her & seemed to really enjoy playing with her (except when she cried...then she stopped being cool for a few minutes!). On the family front, we also visited with my aunts & uncles, as well as my brother-in-law & his family. We also headed out to Chilliwack with Grandma Shepherd to see my mom's cousin, Gail, who I hadn't seen for a number of years. Dave is staying with Gail while he is substitute teaching in Chilliwack. While we were there, Claire got to meet her first cat - she only grabbed it's tail once - the rest of the time she just kept an eye on it (as it did the same!)
It was SO nice to see everyone!
Claire got to visit with a number of my friends on this trip, too - she was a popular baby! First, we caught up with my friend Kelly & her 7 month old, Lucas, who is Claire's future husband. They behaved themselves for the most part - Claire tried to pull off Lucas' sock & Lucas tried to grab Claire's face...sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship, right?!
Claire & I also got to hang out with my best friend, Linsie, a couple of times and even met Linsie's ADORABLE 1o month old niece, Delyla. I'm sure Claire was jealous of Delyla's abilities to speed-crawl and stand up, but what Claire was MOST impressed with was Delyla's deluxe Jumperoo...at that point, Claire had been away from her own beloved Jumperoo for a couple of weeks, so when I put her into the deluxe Jumperoo, she jumped like a maniac for 15 minutes or more - she was so into it that she jumped both of her socks off!
Another day, my Mom & I took Claire to North Vancouver to have tea with my friend Jenn & her mom (and their huge dog, Holly, who was quite taken with Claire!).
Finally, Mom, Claire & I went to our family friends, the Penafiels. Claire had a great time with Julie (who is a couple of years younger than me), and got to sit in a high chair for the first time - so many firsts!
Again, it was wonderful to have the time to be able to catch up with so many friends!
When we weren't visiting with family & friends, we just enjoyed spending time around Vancouver. We went for walks, played with cousins, and Claire even got to hang out with her D0g-Aunties, Cassie & Sydney!
We capped the fantastic trip off with a fun road trip back to Pullman, thanks to the stellar driving & passengering skills of my brother Dave & sister Meg. They are both SAINTS for putting up with Claire (and me!) for so long...Claire did pretty well for most of the trip, but had a screaming meltdown for the last 45 minutes of the trip. Thank you, Meg & Dave, for not kicking us out on the side of the highway! We had a great time with you!
We had an excellent trip, and just wish that Zach could have been there with us. Next time, he will be!
Here are some pictures (ok, A LOT of pictures...), as well as a few videos for your enjoyment...yes, every single picture & video features Claire...what? Is that surprising?! :-)
Claire March 2012 Pictures!
Claire Rolls Over Video
Claire in Car Seat Part 1 Video
Claire in Car Seat Part 2 Video
Claire and Emily Video
Claire Raspberry Video
Emily, Matthew, and Claire Video
Claire Bouncy Seat Video
Claire Raspberry Video Part 1
Claire Raspberry Video Part 2
Claire Reaching for a Spoon Video
Sunday, March 25, 2012
New Job and Pullman Trip
On March 5th I started a new job as a software engineer at Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL), based out of their Boise office. For various reasons, it was time for a job change. However starting this new job required that I spend three weeks in Pullman, Washington, for training. We were able to stay in a three bedroom corporate apartment just across the street from the SEL campus. We drove down from Boise on the 4th and this was mostly uneventful except for Claire crying during the last hour. The plan was that the three of us would stay in Pullman for my first week and then Katie and Claire would spend the next two weeks with the Shepherd family in Vancouver (maybe Katie will blog about that?).
My first week at work was dominated by new employee orientation. We spent some time getting to know Pullman during the week before the three of us left for Vancouver on the evening of Friday the 9th. Claire cried during the first couple of hours of this trip but went to sleep for the rest of the ride. We arrived in Vancouver around 1:30am and were tired! I spent Saturday in Vancouver before heading back to Pullman on Sunday the 11th.
My next two weeks in Pullman were pretty predictable - working, getting trained, and checking out the area as best I could. It was sad being away from my family for so long but I did get better sleep than usual! The weather in Pullman was kind of crummy while I was there (lots of cold, rain, and snow) but there was a decent weekend that allowed me to hike nearby Kamiak Butte, drive up nearby Steptoe Butte, and snowshoe Mt Spokane and Mt Kit Carson outside of Spokane. It's an interesting area for sure but I definitely like Boise a lot more!
On Thursday the 22nd Katie and Claire returned to Pullman after being driven down by Katie's siblings Megan and Dave. They had a fun road trip together and we had a nice dinner at the South Fork Public House before going to bed. Megan and Dave left Pullman on Friday morning and the three of us left right after I finished work on Friday evening. Claire behaved pretty well on this final drive and we arrived in Boise around 12:45am on Saturday morning. Instead of relaxing Saturday, I spent the day at the Boise Code Camp. But at least Sunday was a relaxing day highlighted by brunch at Bob's Sunrise Cafe with Gary and Bonnie!
Pullman Pictures!
Kamiak Butte/Steptoe Butte Hike Pictures!
Mt Spokane/Mt Kit Carson Snowshoe Pictures!
My first week at work was dominated by new employee orientation. We spent some time getting to know Pullman during the week before the three of us left for Vancouver on the evening of Friday the 9th. Claire cried during the first couple of hours of this trip but went to sleep for the rest of the ride. We arrived in Vancouver around 1:30am and were tired! I spent Saturday in Vancouver before heading back to Pullman on Sunday the 11th.
My next two weeks in Pullman were pretty predictable - working, getting trained, and checking out the area as best I could. It was sad being away from my family for so long but I did get better sleep than usual! The weather in Pullman was kind of crummy while I was there (lots of cold, rain, and snow) but there was a decent weekend that allowed me to hike nearby Kamiak Butte, drive up nearby Steptoe Butte, and snowshoe Mt Spokane and Mt Kit Carson outside of Spokane. It's an interesting area for sure but I definitely like Boise a lot more!
On Thursday the 22nd Katie and Claire returned to Pullman after being driven down by Katie's siblings Megan and Dave. They had a fun road trip together and we had a nice dinner at the South Fork Public House before going to bed. Megan and Dave left Pullman on Friday morning and the three of us left right after I finished work on Friday evening. Claire behaved pretty well on this final drive and we arrived in Boise around 12:45am on Saturday morning. Instead of relaxing Saturday, I spent the day at the Boise Code Camp. But at least Sunday was a relaxing day highlighted by brunch at Bob's Sunrise Cafe with Gary and Bonnie!
Pullman Pictures!
Kamiak Butte/Steptoe Butte Hike Pictures!
Mt Spokane/Mt Kit Carson Snowshoe Pictures!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Claire Early March Update
Here are a few recent pictures and videos of Claire!
Claire Early March Pictures!
Claire Getting Poked Video
Claire Jumperoo Video
Claire Early March Pictures!
Claire Getting Poked Video
Claire Jumperoo Video
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